Marie Weeks
June 23, 1931 – March 10, 2023
Marie Weeks, age 91 of Jonesboro, ascended to her Heavenly home Wednesday, March 8, 2023. She enjoyed cooking for loved ones and attending family gatherings. She loved to care for her flower gardens. Marie was the a great mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loved the Lord and her family above all else.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Jimmy Breeland and wife Robbie, George Breeland and wife Julie; daughters, Dorothy Brown, Joan Shows, Christine Dobson and husband Denis, Melba Norred and husband Waylon; 18 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; 22 great-great grandchildren; brother, Harvey Gean Wade and wife Juanita. She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Weeks; son, Van Ray Weeks; grandson, Roger Van Weeks; great granddaughter, Emily MaKenna Kelly; parents, James Elmer and Lelia Marie (Harville) Wade; brother, Robert Wade.
Funeral services are set for Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 2:00PM at Siloam Baptist Church in Gansville with Reverends Terry Bartley and Robert Leach officiating. Burial will follow in Antioch Community Church Cemetery near Brewtons Mill under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.
Serving the family as pallbearers will be Alex Kelley, Jeff Carpenter, Logan Carpenter, Rodney Temple, Stanley Lafollette, Bryan Lafollette. Honorary pallbearers will be Ryan Michael Kelley, Wade Brown, Waylon Norred, Bart Norred.
Dakota “Cody” Lynn Carter
September 2, 1993 – March 3, 2023
Dakota Lynn Carter passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023 in Friendship, Louisiana. He was 29 years old. Cody, as he was known by his family and friends, was an extremely friendly and loving person. People instantly liked him and he liked talking to everyone. Cody enjoyed fishing. He loved high school, college and professional football, as well as other sports. His favorite thing to do was to spend time with his sons.
Cody is survived by his son, Beaux Carter and Beaux’s mother, Destiny Nash; daughter-to-be, Eden Carter; father, Eric Carter; mother, Janet (Jones) Carter; sisters, Nicole Carter and Olivia Kate Carter; brother, Tyler Carter; paternal grandmother, Kitty Carter; maternal grandmother, Nancy Jones; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Cody was preceded in death by his son, Corey Carter; paternal grandfather, Glen Carter; maternal grandfather, Joe Jones; and uncle, B.J. Carter.
As per his wishes, Cody will be cremated. A memorial service was held at McDonald Baptist on Friday, March 10, 2023 with Bro. Randy Dark officiating.
William A. “Billy” Gullatt
August 30, 1930 – March 9, 2023
William A. “Billy” Gullatt was born on August 30, 1930, to the late Jap Gullatt, Sr., and the late Carrie Jane Pesnell Gullatt. He was the seventh of eight children. After graduating in 1947 from Simsboro High School, Billy graduated from Louisiana Tech with a B.S. degree in Education, an M.A. degree in Education, and his Plus 30 and above in Education. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, including one year in Korea.
Billy began his teaching career in 1955 as a teacher and coach in Longstreet, LA. His career spanned 31 years of teaching, coaching, and administration. He retired as a Supervisor of Instruction in Lincoln Parish Schools. After retirement, he served as Principal of Bienville Academy, Director of Educational services at the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home, and Adjunct Professor at Louisiana Tech.
Billy had a love for teachers and those who taught and served in the classroom. After retirement, he served as President of the Lincoln Parish Retired Teachers, District President of Retired Teachers, and on the Board of Directors of the Retired Teacher Association in Baton Rouge. One thing dear to his heart was the Men’s Bible Study Class at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston.
Billy is preceded in death by his parents, Jap Gullatt, Sr., and Carrie Pesnell Gullatt; his sisters, Milledge Ledbetter, Jo Fielder, Etta Dean, and Margie Johnson; his brothers Harrell Gullatt and Thomas Ted Gullatt; and a nephew Samuel Larry Ledbetter.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Gloria Rodrigues Gullatt; one brother, Jap Gullatt, Jr. (Patsy) of Haughton, two daughters, Rhonda Gullatt Malone and husband John of Ruston, and Pam Gullatt Scott and husband Fletcher of Katy, TX; six grandchildren, Matthew Malone (Meredyth) of Bentonville, AR, Daniel Scott (Kim) of Katy, TX, Megan Malone Webster (Charles) of Memphis, TN, Molly Malone Fleming (Beau) of Mooresville, NC, Jennifer Scott Horn (Jarred) of Leander, TX, and Amy Scott Raskolnikov (Dima) of New York, NY; eight great-grandchildren Samantha, Abigail, and Cole Scott; Caden, Ainsley, and Cody Horn; Kipton Malone, and Louis Fleming.
A celebration of life for William A. “Billy” Gullatt, 92, will be at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, March 12, 2023, in the chapel of Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, LA, with Dr. Reggie Bridges officiating. Burial will follow at the Gullatt Cemetery in Simsboro, LA, immediately following under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 12, from 1:00 – 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of Temple Baptist Church.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Thomas Gullatt, Steve Gullatt, Patrick Gullatt, John Gullatt, Dr. David Gullatt, and Ben Ledbetter. Honorary pallbearers will be C. A. Taylor and David Roach.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Gullatt Family Scholarship Fund through the Louisiana Tech University Foundation. This scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student in the College of Education at Louisiana Tech University or the donor of their choice.
James Paul Turner
November 17, 1920 – March 8, 2023
Funeral services for Mr. James Paul Turner, age 102 of Ruston, LA will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church in Ruston with Rev. Dana Thrash officiating. Burial will follow in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
James was born November 17, 1920 in Quitman, LA to William Turner and Addie Causey and passed away March 8, 2023 in Ruston. He served in the United States Army as sergeant during World War II, in the invasion of Normandy for D-Day, campaigns of Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes in the Battle of the Bulge and central Europe. James was a tank driver in the 746 Tank Battalion and received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and a Bronze Indian Head for his services. After the war, he became a carpenter and retired as a heavy construction worker where he had a degree in blueprint reading and built nuclear reactors. James returned home to care for his parents after retirement and returned to carpentry, building many houses until retiring again at the age of 94. Building was his passion. James had a great sense of humor. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. James loved to spend time with his family. He was a Mason and was a member of the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church. James was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years and the love of his life Marjorie Louise Day Turner; three brothers: Claudie Mitchell Turner, William “Billy” Turner and Rhode Turner; and one sister Minnie Neeles.
James is survived by his sons Michael Turner of Ruston and Stephen Turner and wife Sylvia of Choudrant, LA; granddaughter Sarah Louise Turner Castaneda and husband Dylan Castaneda of Ruston; grandson Joshua Paul Turner and wife Chelsey of Farmerville, LA; step-grandson David Horn of Ruston; three great-grandchildren: Emery Castaneda of Ruston, Olivia Castaneda of Ruston and Madison Turner of Farmerville; two sisters Addie Pearl “Pep” Lynde of Quitman and Bettye Sue Turner Pate of Jonesboro, LA; and a host of other family and many friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Dylan Castaneda, Billy Pipes, Will Neeles, JR Farley, Joshua Turner and Chris Love. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Neeles and Lowell Lynde, Jr.
Visitation will be held from 8:00-10:00 AM, Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston.
